Mayor Anna Stout: Full-Circle Impact On Grand Junction

After moving to Grand Junction at the age of 3, Anna Stout never imagined that she would now be the mayor of the town that has had such a big impact on her life. Stout, who has been mayor of Grand Junction since May 2022, did not grow up with dreams of local government work. Although Stout’s focus growing up was on international work, she feels privileged to now be serving on City Council and on a mayoral level to impact the community that impacted her.

Courtesy of the City of Grand Junction.

“There was a gradual realization that being involved at the local level has a more profound impact on daily life,” Stout explains, “and that was really what drew me to this service —knowing that this is a community that has helped raise me and form me as a person.”

Stout has been able to see the town change throughout the years, which gives her a unique perspective as mayor. She remembers, when growing up, crossing over the 5th St. Bridge heading north into town almost every day and passing a junk yard, which now has a beautiful development built in its place.

“It’s really great to have perspectives from people who have moved here and who bring that experience of choosing Grand Junction and of comparing it to their previous community,” says Stout, “but there is also a lot of value of somebody who remembers vividly what the community used to be like.”

When she was 19 years old, with a passion for international work, Stout stood up in front of the Grand Junction City Council and presented a proposal to adopt a community in El Salvadoras Grand Junction’s sister city. “It was kind of an interesting full circle to now sit on the other side of the bench as part of the council that I had petitioned in 2004,” Stout explains. “That project just turned 18 last year, so we have been working in our sister city for 18 years.

Throughout her years in local government work, Stout has learned that her service in her role as mayor is not just about impacting the community right now, but it is about inspiring future leaders. Being an ambassador for the community, especially for young people and young women, is Stout’s favorite part about being mayor. She loves the friendliness of the community of Grand Junction and is looking forward to her future work on housing strategies, mobility plans and continuing to support the riverfront development.

“This community is like coming home to your favorite blanket or favorite pajamas,” explains Stout. “It wraps around you. This is home.”

Originally published in the Spring 2023 issue of Spoke+Blossom.